As we welcome summertime in South Africa, there aren't exactly "candy canes and silver lanes a'glow". No snow-flocked trees in sight either. 'Tis the season to enjoy fresh avos, oranges and watch flowers bloom!
Hot or cold, Christmas is coming and we are getting ready to celebrate the birth of Christ. He came as the least of these - a baby born in a manger to unwed parents from the wrong side of the tracks.
Today, the staff at Ten Thousand Homes got together to prepare to celebrate Christmas with the "least of these" - the orphaned and vulnerable children of Kabokweni, Mbonisweni and Dwaleni - that we have the privilege of knowing, loving and serving every week.
We've been collecting donations from visiting teams throughout the year and spent the morning preparing gifts for the 31 volunteers and 400 children we serve at weekly feeding schemes. We cranked up the Christmas carols and dove in to the first big project of the Christmas season!
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| Painted Gift Bags- handprints courtesy of Zoe |
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| Carla organizing gift bags |
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| Making goodie bags! |
It was a surprise jolt into the holiday spirit for me today. There was no Halloween candy, fall leaves or football season to warm me up for the holly jolly right after the pumpkin pie. But what a way to get into the spirit - painting gift bags to light up the most beautiful faces I've ever encountered and packing up baby dolls for little girls who've never held one before.
I would like to invite you to start the holiday season with us here at Ten Thousand Homes. This Christmas season, as you have guests over, family gatherings, classroom parties, Sunday School hoorah's, potlucks, business meetings, family dinners, or any other excuse you can think of to get together, get into the reason for the season! This is the perfect time for us to plan for next year's Christmas season so that you can be a part of it.
Ask your local grocery story to donate paper grocery bags and invite everyone to paint gift bags and Christmas cards.
Take up a collection of lightweight (easy to mail) toys, books or dolls. Stock up on beads and have a party to make jewelry. Go shopping for Christmas goodies on clearance the day after Christmas.
True Christmas cheer doesn't come from the shiny bows or the full stockings, but from the way God will shine through your servant-hands and fill your heart as you invite the least of these into your biggest and best holiday parties of the year. Use your creativity, your gifts, your people and your passions to rock out manger style this year... yes, I just said that. Possibilities are endless and everyone can participate!
If you would like more details, feel free to email me at kacychaffin@gmail.com.
You can mail gift bags or collected items to:
Ten Thousand Homes
PO Box 4450
White River, Mpumalanga
South Africa 1240
**Please write "GIFT" on the outside of all packages sent.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(From Matthew 25)Thank you! I can't wait to hear your stories about celebrating with us!
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